Bandar Seri Begawan intro.Bandar Seri Begawan, often nicknamed BSB, is the capital city of Brunei Darussalam, a tiny country totally surrounded by Malaysian territory in Southeast Asia. Brunei, as the country’s name is frequently shortened, has become one of the wealthiest and fastest growing countries in the world. Until recently, the majority of hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan have been most famous for their expensive costs, but visitors on tighter budgets will be happy to know this has changed in recent years. There are still plenty of luxury resorts among hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan, but the city is also now home to several good quality mid budget Bandar Seri Begawan hotels. Brunei’s only youth hostel, the country’s cheapest accommodation, can also be found near downtown Bandar Seri Begawan. The youth hostel includes a swimming pool, but male and female guests are required to sleep in separate rooms. It is also illegal to sell or publicly drink liquor in Brunei because of the country’s strict Islamic laws.